Happy Birthday, America!

240 years ago today, the United States was born – and today, we celebrate with July 4th photo opportunities! There’s so much to do and so many wonderful memories worth capturing on film to remember. Here in DC, there’s really an endless stream of opportunities to consider. In all the hustle and bustle, it’s easy to forget to take out the camera or smartphone and snap up some shots.

Here are a few of my favorite July 4th photo opportunities we all need to take time to snap up:

July 4th Photo Opportunities

Sparklers. If you’re a family who enjoys at-home fireworks or sparklers, this can be a great photo opportunity to
capture the wonderment and amusement on your children’s faces. Please remember to use common sense and caution, though. Follow minimum safe distances and age restrictions on the sparklers. Then, find fun and unique angles to capture the delight. For littler ones, try the same photo with blowing bubbles or dandelion seeds!

Picnic. Everyone loves a good BBQ. If you’re enjoying time with friends and family this 4th, snap up the kiddos enjoying a great big slice of watermelon, or taking a big bite of their hot dog. Gather your loved ones around and get them all involved in some camera love to look back on in the years to come.

Parade. 4th of July offers some of the best in parades. It’s a great time to have festive, patriotic outfits or head gear for photos. You could also have the kids get their faces painted with stars and stripes on their cheeks. Then take a few photos in front your favorite parts of the parade as it passes by.

Fireworks. Most kids love the traditions associated with the 4th. None of those traditions is more memorable than the annual fireworks. Remember to snap up some photos of everyone huddled together, waiting for them to begin. Huddle together with blankets as dusk begins to settle and the temps drop down.

Glow-in-the-Dark Fun. As it starts to get dark, you’ll likely see kids everywhere with their glow-in-the-dark necklaces, bracelets, swords, and more. This is a super fun way to capture your Independence Day memories and the wackiness of kids. One thing to keep in mind, you’ll want to use a true camera, and not your smartphone to capture these ones. You’ll need to slow your shutter speed down to 10-15 seconds and open your aperture wider. This is likely one of the more challenging shots, but well worth it. Play around to see what works for you.

Happy 4th, Everyone!

I wish you the very best 4th of July filled full of family, fun, and photos. Hopefully our forecast of rain will hold out so everyone can enjoy this holiday the way it’s meant to be enjoyed.
Stay safe and enjoy the holiday.
Happy Holiday Snapping!

About the Author:

Julie Kubal is a child and family portrait artist and photographer serving Washington DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. She is passionate about creating warm and meaningful artwork through modern portraits and lifestyle photography at a location of your choice!